Cable assemblies for connecting data storage chassis to a cable conduit within a data storage system

ABSTRACT

A chassis housing disk drives has an electrical plug and an electrical signal connector at its back end. A rack has a compartment for receiving the chassis. A cable conduit mounted to a rack sidewall adjacent the compartment abuts the back end of the chassis. A first cable assembly coupled to the cable conduit includes an electrical plug receptacle and a first cable extending through the cable conduit for conducting power to the electrical plug receptacle. A second cable assembly coupled to the cable conduit includes a data signal connector and a second cable extending through the cable conduit for conducting data signals to and from the data signal connector. The electrical plug receptacle receives the electrical plug and the data signal connector receives the electrical signal connector of the chassis, concurrently, when the chassis slides into the compartment fully, to supply power to and establish communications with the chassis.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to data storage systems. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to cable assembliesconnecting chassis to a cable conduit in a high-density data storagesystem.

BACKGROUND

Enterprises in the data storage industry perpetually face demand fromtheir customers to produce storage solutions that achieveever-increasing data storage density. One approach is to includemultiple disk drives on a carrier. This increased data storage densityon a carrier translates into greater data storage density for disk driveenclosures that can house several of such carriers. However, a competingdemand is to provide individual serviceability, not only to each diskdrive enclosure, but also to each disk drive within the enclosure.Individual serviceability enables field service personnel to remove andreplace a failing disk drive without affecting the operation of workingdrives. A drawback to multiple disk drives on a carrier is that removingthe carrier in order to access a failing disk drive operates to removefrom service companion disk drives that may not be failing.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention features an electronics system comprising achassis housing a plurality of disk drives. The chassis has a back end,and an electrical plug and an electrical signal connector at the backend. A rack has opposing sidewalls and a compartment for receiving thechassis. A cable conduit is mounted to one of the sidewalls of the rackadjacent the compartment for receiving the chassis. The cable conduithas a panel portion that abuts the back end of the chassis. First andsecond cable assemblies are coupled to the panel portion of the cableconduit facing the chassis. The first cable assembly includes anelectrical plug receptacle and a first cable that extends through alength of the cable conduit for conducting power from a power source tothe electrical plug receptacle. The second cable assembly includes adata signal connector and a second cable that extends through a lengthof the cable conduit for conducting data signals to and from the datasignal connector. The electrical plug receptacle receives the electricalplug and the data signal connector receives the electrical signalconnector of the chassis, concurrently, when the chassis slides fullyinto the compartment in the rack, thereby supplying power to andestablishing data signal communications with the chassis.

In another aspect, the invention features an electronics systemcomprising a chassis housing a plurality of disk drives. The chassis hasa back end and an electrical plug at the back end. A rack has opposingsidewalls and a compartment for receiving the chassis. A cable conduitis mounted to one of the sidewalls of the rack adjacent the compartmentfor receiving the chassis. The cable conduit has a panel portion thatabuts the back end of the chassis. A cable assembly is coupled to thepanel portion of the cable conduit facing the chassis. The cableassembly includes an electrical plug receptacle and a cable that extendsthrough a length of the cable conduit for conducting power from a powersource to the electrical plug receptacle. The electrical plug receptaclereceives the electrical plug of the chassis when the chassis slidesfully into the compartment in the rack, thereby supplying power to thechassis.

In still another aspect, an electronics system comprising a chassishousing a plurality of disk drives. The chassis has a back end and anelectrical signal connector at the back end. A rack has opposingsidewalls and a compartment for receiving the chassis. A cable conduitis mounted to one of the sidewalls of the rack adjacent the compartmentfor receiving the chassis. The cable conduit has a panel portion thatabuts the back end of the chassis. A cable assembly is coupled to thepanel portion of the cable conduit facing the chassis. The cableassembly includes a data signal connector and a cable that extendsthrough a length of the cable conduit for conducting data signals to andfrom the data signal connector. The data signal connector receives theelectrical signal connector of the chassis when the chassis slides fullyinto the compartment in the rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further advantages of this invention may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate likestructural elements and features in the various figures. The drawingsare not meant to limit the scope of the invention. For clarity, notevery element may be labeled in every figure. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a data storage systemconstructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the data storage system of FIG. 1,without a rack structure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the data storage system of FIG. 2, witha vertical spine removed to expose interior features of the system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a lower region of the data storagesystem, with power supplies and internal panels partially removed toexpose additional details of interior features of the system.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an illustrative portion of the data storagesystem, with back-to-back data array enclosures electrically connectedto a midplane by way of cables that traverse through a vertical spine.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the data storage system, with back-to-back dataarray enclosures, each electrically plugged into vertical spines onopposite sidewalls of the rack.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an embodiment of a spine connector assembly.

FIG. 8 is a front view of an embodiment of an opening in a flangethrough which a fastener passes to couple the spine connector assemblymovably to the spine.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an embodiment of compression means disposedbetween the flange and the spine.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the spine connector assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a chassis plugging into the spineconnector assembly.

FIG. 12 is a front view of another embodiment of a spine connectorassembly.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of a chassis plugging into two spine connectorassemblies of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Data storage systems embodying the invention have modular data storagechassis that install from the front and from the rear of the rack. Pairsof data storage chassis are accordingly “back-to-back” within the rack(i.e., the back of one chassis faces the back of the chassis directlyopposite). The back-to-back configuration achieves higher disk drivedensity than conventional front-only data storage systems, whilegranting individual frontal access to each data storage chassis forserviceability, either from the front or from the rear of the rack.

Each data storage chassis electrically plugs into a pair of centralspines, herein also referred to as cable conduits, and exhausts airthrough a central chimney (i.e., air plenum). The central spines routethe cabling from the data storage chassis at an upper region of the datastorage system to a midplane located at a lower region of the datastorage system. Movably coupled to the central spines are electricalcable assemblies for making electrical connections to an electrical plugand to an electrical signal connector of the data storage chassis. Themovable coupling enables the electrical cable assemblies of the spine tomove slightly in order to facilitate blind mating and hot pluggingbetween the data storage chassis and the spines.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, shown is an embodiment of a data storagesystem 10 constructed in accordance with the invention. The data storagesystem 10 includes a rack 14 having a front side 16, a rear side 18, andopposing sidewalls 20-1, 20-2. In FIG. 2, the rack 14 is missing fromFIG. 1 to illustrate more clearly the various internal features of thedata storage system 10. In one embodiment, the rack 14 is constructed ofsheet metal and has a 24″ width, a 39″ length, and a 42 U height (1 U isequal to 1.75 inches). Other embodiments of racks may have differentheights, widths, and depths.

Mounting or guide rails (not shown) define front compartments forguiding and supporting chassis installed through the front side 16 andrear compartments for guiding and supporting chassis installed throughthe rear side 18. The placement of such rails can vary during systemmanufacture to accommodate the varying sizes (e.g., 3U, 2U, etc.) ofchassis used to populate the data storage system 10. Accordingly, asused herein, a compartment describes a position in the rack configuredfor receiving a chassis. Mounting rails, doors, cover, floor, and sidepanels of the data storage system 10 are not shown to simplify theillustration.

Installed within the rack 14 are front-side disk array enclosures (DAEs)22, also called data storage chassis, rear-side DAEs 22 (shown in dashedlines), a plurality of power supplies 26, a first vertical spine 30located adjacent the sidewall 20-2, a second vertical spine locatedadjacent the sidewall 20-1 (both not visible), a patch panel 40 (FIG.2), and a plurality of power regulators 44 (FIG. 2). A general referenceto a chassis, as used herein, can refer to any one or more of the DAEs22, power supplies 26, patch panel 40, and power regulators 44. Eachchassis 22, 26, 40, 44 is a field replaceable unit (FRU) and isindividually serviceable from its front end when installed in the rack14.

In the data storage system 10, the DAEs 22 are modular, each having aplurality of redundant disk drives (divided into side A and side B), afront side, a rear side, rear cabling, and front-to-rear cooling. At therear of each DAE 22 are an electrical signal connector and electricalplug that “hot” plug into respective cable assemblies on the verticalspines 30, as described in more detail below. For some embodiments ofDAEs 22, the disk drives are individually serviceable within the DAE. Inone embodiment, each DAE 22 has a 3U height and 12″ depth.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the front and rear compartments reserved for DAEsare fully populated: on the front side 16, a first stack of DAEs 22 isdisposed above the power supplies 26; at the rear side 18, a secondstack of DAEs 22 is disposed above the patch panel 40 and powerregulators 44. A gap (approx. 1 U) separates each stack of DAEs from thepatch panel 40 or power supplies 26. Although shown fully populated withDAEs 22, the data storage system 10 can operate with as few as a singleDAE 22. The modular construction of the data storage system 10 and itsvarious FRUs allows the addition of DAEs 22 on an as-needed basis.

The patch panel 40 is an individual chassis having various modules fordefining the functional behavior of the data storage system 10.Depending upon the particular types of modules in use, the DAEs 22 ofthe data storage system 10 can operate, for example, as a NetworkApplication Storage system, as a Storage Area Network, or as acombination thereof. Egress and ingress of communication signals out ofand into the data storage system 10 is through the patch panel 40 overcabling 41. A source of power can enter the data storage system 10 frombelow (e.g., into the power regulators 44).

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the data storage system 10 with the spine 30removed to reveal a central chimney (or air plenum) 50 defined on twosides by opposing spatially separated interior panels 54-1, and 54-2.The bases of the interior panels 54-1, 54-2 abut the top surfaces ofpower supplies 26 and of the patch panel 40, respectively. Also revealedare external DAE connector assemblies 48 extending from the rear side ofeach DAE 22, a second vertical spine 30-2 at the opposite sidewall ofthe rack 14 disposed between the interior panels 54-1, 54-2, and baffles60 on the interior panel 54-2. The other interior panel 54-1 has similarbaffles, one for each DAE 22, although not visible in FIG. 3. As usedherein, a DAE connector assembly 48 is considered to include anelectrical plug and an electrical signal connector, although suchelectrical components may be structurally and functionally separate andnot part of the same structure.

Also shown, the patch panel 40 includes a midplane 64 extendingdownwards generally orthogonal from the rear side of the patch panel 40.The midplane 64 extends downwards behind and between the power supplies26 and power regulators 44. Power and communication signals pass to andfrom the midplane 64, which functions to route power and such signalsfrom source to destination. Electrical connector assemblies 66, of whicha representative number are shown, are on each side of the midplane 64.The power supplies 26 and power regulators 44 connect from oppositesides to the midplane 64 through some of these connector assemblies 66.DAEs 22 connect to the midplane 64 through others of these connectorassemblies 66, as described in connection with FIG. 5.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a lower region of the data storage system 10of FIG. 3, from which the spine 30, lower sections of interior panels54-1, 54-2, and two DAEs 22 are removed in order to reveal the spine30-2 and baffles 60 in more detail. In this embodiment, the spine 30-2has a recessed region 70 into which a connector assembly 48 can extendfrom the rear of the DAE 22 can enter (for engaging a correspondingconnector assembly of the spine 30-2, not shown).

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the data storage system 10 including aplurality of front-side DAEs 22 and rear-side DAEs 22 plugged into thespine 30. The connections to the spine 30 are representative of similarconnections by the DAEs 22 to the other spine 30-2. To simplify theillustration, the power supplies 26, power rectifiers 44, and many ofthe DAEs 22 are missing from the FIG.

Each spine 30 is comprised of passive components: cables (wires) 42,connector assemblies 45, metal, and plastic. For serviceability, thespines 30 can have side access panels. Preinstalled, permanently mountedto the rack 14 (not shown), and pre-wired with cables (or wires) 42,each vertical spine 30 is in general a conduit for cables 42 thatconduct communication (e.g., I/O) and power signals between the DAEs 22and the midplane 64 (located in the lower rear section of the datastorage system 10). Each cable 42 extends from a cable assembly 47coupled to a midplane connector 66, traverses through a portion of thespine 30, and terminates at a spine connector assembly 45. This spineconnector assembly 45 connects to a corresponding electrical connectorassembly 48 on the DAE 22.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the data storage system 10 having a centralchimney 50 separating back-to-back DAEs 22-1, 22-2. In one embodiment,approximately 12″ (of central chimney) separates the back-to-back DAEs22-1, 22-2. Defined on two sides by the opposing interior panels 54-1,54-2, and on two other sides by the inner-facing walls of opposingspines 30-1, 30-2, the central chimney 50 extends almost the full heightof the data storage system 10 and exhausts air through the top.

Each DAE 22 has redundant disk drives partitioned into Side A and SideB. Side A of the DAE 22-1 and Side B of the DAE 22-2 are electricallyconnected to the spine 30-1 through mated connector assemblies 45, 48.Similarly, Side B of the DAE 22-1 and Side A of the DAE 22-2 areelectrically connected to the spine 30-2 through mated connectorassemblies 45, 48. It is to be understood that the partitioning isillustrative; the disk drives do not need to be partitioned as shown inFIG. 6. When plugged into the spines 30, the rear side of each DAE 22-1,22-2 abuts one of the interior panels 54-1, 54-2, forcing open a baffleto permit the passage of air. Each DAE 22 blows air from front-to-rearand exhausts into the central chimney 50 through the open baffle.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the spine connector assembly 45 (of FIGS.5 and 6). The spine connector assembly 45 includes an embodiment of adata signal cable assembly 100 and an embodiment of a power cableassembly 102. Although shown and described hereafter as separateassemblies, the data signal cable assembly 100 and power cable assembly102 can be constructed integrally as a single cable assembly.

The data signal cable assembly 100 is integrally constructed and has anassembly body 103 and a pair of flanges 104-1, 104-2 (generally, 104) onopposite sides of the assembly body 103. A pair of alignment pins 108-1,108-2 (generally, 108) and a pair of data signal connectors 110 extendorthogonally from the assembly body 103. Each flange 104-1, 104-2 has arespective cross-shaped opening 106-1, 106-2 (generally, 106) formedtherein.

The alignment pins 108 facilitate blind mating between the data signalconnectors 110 and corresponding electrical signal connectors of the DAEchassis 22. One alignment pin 108-1 is longer than the other 108-2. Thelonger alignment pin 108-1 is the first portion of the data signal cableassembly 100 to encounter the back end of the DAE chassis 22 as thechassis slides into the compartment in the rack. In this embodiment, thealignment pins 108 and data signal connectors 110 are arrangedvertically (with respect to the chassis), with one alignment pin 108 oneither side of the data signal connectors 110. The use of two alignmentpins 108 is illustrative; a single alignment pin can suffice forpurposes of blind mating.

The data signal connectors 110 conduct data communications to and fromthe DAE 22. In one embodiment, one of the data signal connectors is aprimary port and the other data signal connector is an expansion port ofa Fibre Channel or Infiniband® interface. The connector type can be theHigh-Speed Serial Data Connector (HSSDC2) for Fibre Channel. Other typesof data signal connectors may be used in the practice of the invention(e.g., a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) connector or a modularconnector, e.g., any of the Registered Jack or RJ-series connectors). Inaddition, the data signal cable assembly 100 can have fewer or more thantwo data signal connectors. Those embodiments of data signal cableassemblies having multiple data signal connectors can be configured totransport different signal types on the same data signal cable assembly(e.g., Fibre Channel and Ethernet).

The power cable assembly 102 is integrally constructed and includes anassembly body 122 and a pair of flanges 124-1, 124-2 (generally, 124) onopposite sides of the assembly body 122. Each flange 124-1, 124-2 has arespective cross-shaped opening 126-1, 126-2 (generally, 126) formedtherein. An alignment pin 128 and an electrical plug receptacle 120extend orthogonally from the assembly body 122. The alignment pin 128facilitates blind mating between the electrical plug receptacle 120 anda corresponding electrical plug of the DAE chassis 22. The alignment pin128 can be longer, shorter, or of the same length as the longer of thetwo alignment pins 108 of the data signal cable assembly 100. In thisembodiment, the electrical plug receptacle 120 and alignment pin 128 aredisposed vertically (with respect to the chassis), with the alignmentpin 128 above the electrical plug receptacle 120.

FIG. 8 shows a general outline of each flange opening 106, 126 in thecable assemblies 100, 102. A cross-section of the shaft 130 of afastener is shown in the center of the opening 106, 126. The diameter ofthe shaft 130 relative to the size and shape of the opening 106, 126allows for side-to-side (X-direction) and up-and-down (Y-direction)movement of the cable assembly when the chassis plugs into the spine 30.Such movement absorbs permitted tolerances in the placement of theelectrical connector and electrical plug on the chassis and in theplacement of the cable assemblies 100, 102 on the panel of the spine 30.To absorb tolerances in the Z-direction (front-to-back andback-to-front), compression means, such as springs, foam backing, andelastomers, can be placed between the flanges of the cable assembliesand the panel of the spine. For example, FIG. 9 shows a fastener 132passing through the opening 106 in the flange 104 and penetrating thepanel of the spine 30. Coiled around the shaft 130 of the fastener 132,between the flange 104 and the spine panel, is a spring 134.

FIG. 10 shows a rear side of the cable assemblies 100, 102 of FIG. 7.Each cable assembly includes an overmold 140, 142, respectively, forsecuring the cables 42 to the backs thereof. At the other end of thecables 42 (not shown) are cable assemblies with the same or similarstructural and functional features as cable assemblies 100, 102,features that facilitate blind mating and hot plugging of the chassis.

FIG. 11 shows a dashed outline of a rear side of a DAE 22 about to jointhe spine connector assembly 45. The spine connector assembly 45 ismovably fixed to a panel portion of the spine 30, while the DAE 22 movestoward the spine connector assembly 45. The DAE 22 includes anelectrical plug 150 and a connector assembly interface 160. Theelectrical plug 150 is aligned to enter the electrical plug receptacle120 of the power cable assembly 102. Above the electrical plug 150 inthe rear face of the DAE 22 is an alignment pin guide 152, which isaligned to receive the alignment pin 128 of the power cable assembly102.

The connector assembly interface 160 includes a vertically oriented datasignal cable assembly 162 connected to a horizontally oriented datasignal cable assembly 164 by a cable 165. An LCC (link control card) inthe DAE 22—not shown—electrically connects to the data signal cableassembly 100 of the spine connector assembly 45 through the connectorassembly interface 160. The vertically oriented data signal cableassembly 162 interfaces with the data signal cable assembly 100; thehorizontally oriented data signal cable assembly 164 interfaces with theLCC. In this intermediary position, the connector assembly interface160, rather than the LCC, absorbs the brunt of the force used to plugthe DAE 22 into the spine 30. When the DAE 22 plugs into the spine 30,the data signal cable assembly 162 joins with the data signal cableassembly 100 and the electrical plug 150 joins the electrical plugreceptacle 120, concurrently. After the joining, the data signalconnectors 170 of the data signal cable assembly 164 conduct thecommunication signals to and from the corresponding data signalconnectors 110 of the data signal cable assembly 100.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a spine connector assembly 45′having a data signal cable assembly 100′ and a power cable assembly102′. Although shown and described hereafter as separate assemblies, thedata signal cable assembly 100′ and power cable assembly 102′ can beconstructed integrally as a single cable assembly.

The data signal cable assembly 100′ is integrally constructed and has anassembly body 103′ and a pair of flanges 104′-1, 104′-2 (generally,104′) on opposite sides of the assembly body 103′. A pair of alignmentpins 108′-1, 108′-2 (generally, 108′) and a pair of data signalconnectors 110′ extend orthogonally from the assembly body 103′. Eachflange 104′-1, 104′-2 has a respective cross-shaped opening 106′-1,106′-2 (generally, 106′) formed therein.

The alignment pins 108′ and data signal connectors 110′ used in thisembodiment of data signal cable assembly 100′ are structurally andfunctionally similar to those described in connection with the datasignal cable assembly 100 of FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the alignmentpins 108′ and data signal connectors 110′ are arranged horizontally(with respect to the chassis), with one alignment pin 108′ on eitherside of the data signal connectors 110′.

The power cable assembly 102′ is integrally constructed and includes anassembly body 122′ and a pair of flanges 124′-1, 124′-2 (generally,124′) on opposite sides of the assembly body 122′. Each flange 124′-1,124′-2 has a respective cross-shaped opening 126′-1, 126′-2 (generally,126′) formed therein. A pair of alignment pins 128′-1, 128′-2(generally, 128′) and an electrical plug receptacle 120′ extendorthogonally from the assembly body 122′. The alignment pin 128′-1 andelectrical plug receptacle 120′ used in this embodiment of data signalcable assembly 100′ are structurally and functionally similar to thosedescribed in connection with the data signal cable assembly 100 of FIG.7. The additional alignment pin 128′-2 further facilitates blind mating.In this embodiment, the electrical plug receptacle 120′ and alignmentpins 128′ are disposed vertically (with respect to the chassis), withthe alignment pins 128′ above the electrical plug receptacle 120′.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a DAE 22 about to plug into a first spineconnector assembly 45′-1 and, for illustration purposes only, alreadyplugged into a second spine connector assembly 45′-2. In practice, theDAE 22′ plugs into both spine connector assemblies 45′-1, 45′-2concurrently when the DAE 22′ is installed into the rack. At DAEinstallation, the spine connector assemblies 45′ are movably fixed toopposing spines 30-1, 30-2 (FIG. 6), while the DAE 22′ moves toward thespine connector assemblies 45′. The DAE 22′ includes an electrical plug150′-1, 150′-2 (generally 150′) and LCCs 200-1, 200-2 (generally, 200).(The electrical plug 150′-2 is obscured by the plugged in power cableassembly 102′-2). Each LCC 200-1, 200-2 has a horizontally oriented datasignal connector 202-1, 202-2, respectively, at a back end thereof. Thedata signal connector 202-1 directly connects to the data signal cableassembly 100′-1 of the spine connector assembly 45′-1; the data signalconnector 202-2 directly connects to the data signal cable assembly100′-2 of the spine connector assembly 45′-2.

The electrical plug 150′-1 is aligned to enter the electrical plugreceptacle 120′-1 of the power cable assembly 102′-1. Above theelectrical plug 150′-1 in the rear face of the DAE 22′ are alignment pinguides 206, which receive the alignment pins 128′ of the power cableassembly 102′-1. When the DAE 22′ plugs into the spines 30-1, 30-2, thedata signal connectors 202-1, 202-2 join with respective data signalcable assemblies 100′-1, 100′-2 and the electrical plugs 150′-1, 150′-2join respective power cable assemblies 102′-1, 102′-2, concurrently.

While the present invention has been shown and described herein withreference to specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that variations, alterations, changes in formand detail, and equivalents may be made or conceived of withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, thescope of the present invention should be assessed as that of theappended claims and by equivalents thereto.

1. An electronics system comprising: a chassis housing a plurality ofdisk drives, the chassis having a back end, and an electrical plug andan electrical signal connector at the back end; a rack having opposingsidewalls and a compartment for receiving the chassis; a cable conduitmounted to one of the sidewalls of the rack adjacent the compartment forreceiving the chassis, the cable conduit having a panel portion thatabuts the back end of the chassis; and first and second cable assembliescoupled to the panel portion of the cable conduit facing the chassis,the first cable assembly including an electrical plug receptacle and afirst cable that extends through a length of the cable conduit forconducting power from a power source to the electrical plug receptacle,the second cable assembly including a data signal connector and a secondcable that extends through a length of the cable conduit for conductingdata signals to and from the data signal connector, the electrical plugreceptacle receiving the electrical plug and the data signal connectorreceiving the electrical signal connector of the chassis, concurrently,when the chassis fully slides into the compartment in the rack, therebysupplying power to and establishing data signal communications with thechassis.
 2. The electronics system of claim 1, wherein each cableassembly includes a flange with a cross-shaped opening formed therein,and further comprising fastening means, for each cable assembly, forentering through the cross-shaped opening of the flange and movablycoupling that cable assembly to the panel portion of the cable conduit.3. The electronics system of claim 2, further comprising compressionmeans disposed between each flange and the panel portion of the cableconduit.
 4. The electronics system of claim 1, wherein each cableassembly includes at least one alignment pin and the back end of thechassis includes corresponding alignment pin guides to facilitate blindmating between the electrical plug receptacle and the electrical plugand between the data signal connector and the electrical signalconnector of the chassis when the chassis fully slides into thecompartment in the rack.
 5. The electronics system of claim 1, whereinat least one of the cable assemblies includes a pair of alignment pins,with one of the alignment pins being longer than the other alignmentpin, and the back end of the chassis includes corresponding alignmentpin guides to facilitate blind mating between the chassis and the cableconduit when the chassis fully slides into the compartment in the rack.6. The electronics system of claim 1, wherein the second cable assemblyis integrally constructed and includes multiple data signal connectors.7. The electronics system of claim 6, wherein the second cable assemblyis includes a pair of alignment pins, one alignment pin on each side ofthe multiple data signal connectors.
 8. The electronics system of claim7, wherein the alignment pins and data signal connectors are verticallyarranged with respect to the back end of the chassis.
 9. The electronicssystem of claim 1, wherein the second cable assembly is integrallyconstructed and includes multiple data signal connectors for differenttypes of data signal communications.
 10. The electronics system of claim1, wherein the first and second cable assemblies are integrallyconstructed as a single cable assembly.
 11. An electronics systemcomprising: a chassis housing a plurality of disk drives, the chassishaving a back end and an electrical plug at the back end; a rack havingopposing sidewalls and a compartment for receiving the chassis; a cableconduit mounted to one of the sidewalls of the rack adjacent thecompartment for receiving the chassis, the cable conduit having a panelportion that abuts the back end of the chassis; and a cable assemblycoupled to the panel portion of the cable conduit facing the chassis,the cable assembly including an electrical plug receptacle and a cablethat extends through a length of the cable conduit for conducting powerfrom a power source to the electrical plug receptacle, the electricalplug receptacle receiving the electrical plug of the chassis when thechassis fully slides into the compartment in the rack, thereby supplyingpower to the chassis.
 12. The electronics system of claim 11, whereinthe cable assembly includes a flange with a cross-shaped opening formedtherein, and further comprising fastening means for entering through thecross-shaped opening of the flange and movably coupling the cableassembly to the panel portion of the cable conduit.
 13. The electronicssystem of claim 12, further comprising compression means disposedbetween the flange and the panel portion of the cable conduit.
 14. Theelectronics system of claim 11, wherein the cable assembly includes atleast one alignment pin and the back end of the chassis includescorresponding alignment pin guides to facilitate blind mating betweenthe electrical plug receptacle and the electrical plug of the chassiswhen the chassis fully slides into the compartment in the rack.
 15. Anelectronics system comprising: a chassis housing a plurality of diskdrives, the chassis having a back end and an electrical signal connectorat the back end; a rack having opposing sidewalls and a compartment forreceiving the chassis; a cable conduit mounted to one of the sidewallsof the rack adjacent the compartment for receiving the chassis, thecable conduit having a panel portion that abuts the back end of thechassis; and a cable assembly coupled to the panel portion of the cableconduit facing the chassis, the cable assembly including a data signalconnector and a cable that extends through a length of the cable conduitfor conducting data signals to and from the data signal connector, thedata signal connector receiving the electrical signal connector of thechassis when the chassis fully slides into the compartment in the rack,thereby establishing data signal communications with the chassis. 16.The electronics system of claim 15, wherein the cable assembly includesa flange with a cross-shaped opening formed therein, and furthercomprising fastening means for entering through the cross-shaped openingof the flange and movably coupling the cable assembly to the panelportion of the cable conduit.
 17. The electronics system of claim 16,further comprising compression means disposed between the flange and thepanel portion of the cable conduit.
 18. The electronics system of claim15, wherein the cable assembly includes at least one alignment pin andthe back end of the chassis includes corresponding alignment pin guidesto facilitate blind mating between the data signal connector and theelectrical signal connector of the chassis when the chassis fully slidesinto the compartment in the rack.
 19. The electronics system of claim15, wherein the cable assembly is integrally constructed and includesmultiple data signal connectors.
 20. The electronics system of claim 19,wherein the cable assembly is includes a pair of alignment pins, onealignment pin on each side of the multiple data signal connectors. 21.The electronics system of claim 20, wherein the alignment pins and datasignal connectors are vertically arranged with respect to the back endof the chassis.
 22. The electronics system of claim 15, wherein thecable assembly is integrally constructed and includes multiple datasignal connectors for different types of data signal communications.